Piano-action.



F. MEYER.

PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED APRJZ, 1906.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

FRANZ MEYER, 0F OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-ACTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1909.

Application filed April 12, 1906. Serial No; 311,226.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANZ MEYER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Oak Park, Cook county, Illinois, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Piano-Actions, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to piano actions in general, and more especially tothe actions employed in grand pianos.

Generally stated, the object of my invention is the provision of animproved, simplified and highly efficient piano action.

Special objects of my invention are the provision of means for avoidingthe use of certain elements heretofore considered necessary in grandpiano actions; the provision of an improved jack arrangement for grandpiano actions; the provision of improved means for avoiding thenecessity of loading the piano keys; and the provision of certaindetails and features of improvement and combinations tending to increasethe general efiiciency and serviceability of piano actions of thisparticular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, my invention consists in thematters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a grand piano actionembodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 shows the same actionin another position.

As thus illustrated, my improved piano action comprises the usual pianokeys A, each key being provided at its rear end with the usual backcheck a. The rail B extends horizontally in the usual manner, as alsothe butt rail C. The grand supports D are pivotally secured to theflange cl mounted upon the rail B, each grand support being providedwith a hammer rest (Z Each grand support is connected with its allottedkey by a suitable adjustable connection (Z At its forward end each grandsupport is provided with a pivoted jack E, which jack is composed ofupper and lower portions 6 and c the two sections being pivotallyconnected together at 6 The jack support 6 is rigidly secured to thegrand support and a spring 6 extends through the jack support andconnects the grand support with the joint or point of articulationbetween the upper and lower portions of the jack. In this way, the saidjack is normally distended or in a straightened-out condition, and restsagainst the jack support.

I The hammers F are secured to the butts f,

and each butt is pivotally secured to the flange 7 mounted upon the buttrail C. Each hammer is provided with a spring f which connects its rearend with the flange 7, and which yieldingl'y opposes the drop ordownward movements of the hammers. These springs, and also the springs6, can be properly tensioned to produce the desired results. With thisarrangement, it not necessary to weight the keys. A stop 0 is secured tothe under side of the rail C, and is adapted to engage the lower upturned end portion of the lower section 1: of the jack. A stop or bufferpiece 0 is secured to the inner face of the rail C and adapted to beengaged by the lower section of the jack, as shown more clearly in Fig.2. Normally, the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1. However,when the key is depressed, and retained in such depressed condition, theparts are then in the positions shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen thatthe depression of the key causes the lower end of the jack section 6 toengage the stop which has a round head thereby causing a buckling ormovement of the joint between the upper and lower sections of the jack,which results in allowing the hammer to settle back and assume theposition shown in Fig. 2. v The stroke, however, is suliicient to enablethe jack, while in its straight or distended position, to push thehammer up into engagement with the string. This description, it will beunderstood, applies to each key and its hammer and jack, etc. With thisarrangement, the hammers are very responsive, it only requiring a slightelevation of the key from a depressed position to enable the hammer ofsuchkey to immediately strike another blow; thus, rapid repetition ispossible with each key, with the desired effect of the hammers on thestrings. When a key is released, the spring c proceeds to pull the jackinto its normal or straightened-out position, as shown in cated featuresare dispensed with, which I tionary stop 0 for engaging the lower end offeatures have heretofore been considered HGCGSSill'y in grand pianoactions.

Other advantages and valuable features will be apparent to those skilledin the art.

hat I claim as my invention is,-

I. In a grand piano action, the combination of a key, a hammer, a grandsupport, an articulated jack extending between the support and hammerbutt, and means 011 the grand support for retaining the jack normally inan upright position, said means comprising a part constantly engagingthe upper section of the jack.

2. In a grand piano action, the combination of a key, a hammer, apivoted grand support, a ack having its lower end pivoted on saidsupport, said jack consisting of upper and lower pivotally connectedsections, a spring tending to keep the jack normally straightened-out ordistended, the upper end of the jack engaging the butt of the ham mer,means for engaging the lower end of the jack to cause the same to buckleor bend at the joint thereof, and means on the grand support forretaining the jack normally in an upright position, said meanscomprising a part constantly engaging the upper section of the ack.

3. I11 a grand piano action, the combination of the piano key A, thehammer F, the grand support I), the hammer rest (Z the jack support 0"mounted on the grand support, the jointed or articulated j ackE mountedon said grand support always engaging the upper end of the support 0 thespring (2* for holding the jack in a normally straightened-out ordistended position, and the stasaid jack to cause the latter to buckleor bend at the oint thereof, said ack support supporting the jack Enormally in an upright position, substantially as, and. for the purposeset forth.

a. In a grand piano action, the combination of a piano key, a hammer, anarticulated or jointed jack constituting a medium of connection betweenthe key and the hammer, means for normally retaining the ack in anupright position, means for engaging the lower end of the jack to causethe same to buckle or bend at the joint thereof, said first-mentionedmeans comprising a support constantly engaging the upper section of saidjack.

5. In a grand piano action, the combination of a piano key, a hammer, apivoted grand support, a jointed or articulated jack having its lowerend pivoted on the forward end of said grand support, a jack supportrigidly secured to said grand support, a spring for constantly holdingthe upper section of said jack against said jack support, tending tokeep the jack normally straight ened out or distended, and means forengaging the lower end of the jack to cause the same to buckle or bendat the joint thereof, the upper end of the jack engaging the butt ofsaid hammer.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this tenth day of April,1906.

FRANZ MEYER.

lVitnesses A. F. Dunaxn, ALBERT J. SAUSER.

